Apparatus for producing carbureted air



No. 749,768. PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904. E. P. WILSON.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GARBURBTED AIR. APPLICATION FILED 00119, 1903.

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PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904. E. F. WILSON. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GARBURETEDAIR.

UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD F. WILSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE S.

WELLES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CARBUREI ED AIR.

SPECIFICATIONformiiig part of Letters Patent No. 749,768, dated January19, 1904.

Application filed October 19, 1903. Serial No. 177,643. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. WILsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Producing5 for producing carbureted air having great heating power; and itconsists in the features of construction and combinations of partshereinar'ter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 showsan apparatus for carbureting air constructed in accordance with myinvention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection of same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail horizontalsection, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is afragmentary detail section showing the inlet for the hydrocarbon fluidand the means for distributing'the same uniformly over thecarburetorplates.

, My said apparatus comprises an air-compressor 1, preferably of thelow-pressure type, having large capacity and delivering air at apressure of from three to five pounds. The said blower 1 is connected atits delivery end by means of a pipe2 with the four-arm coupling 3, fromwhich a pipe i leads into the bottom of a heating chamber 5, containinga steam heating-coil 6, having connection with a source of supplyofsteam at its upper end and with an exhaust at its lower end. Leadingfrom the upper end of said heating-chamher 5 is a pipe 7, entering thelower end oi'a carburcting-chamber 8, said pipe being provided at itsinner end with an inverted funnel 9, having a serrated lower edge, whichprojects into the hydrocarbon liquid'in the bottom of said chamber 8.Above said carbureter and connected with the upper end of same by meansof a valve-controlled pipe 10 is a tank 11, adapted to receive andcontain the hydrocarbon liquid, said tank 11 being connected with asource of supply of such liquid by means of a valve-controlled pipe 12and being connected at its upper end with the pipe 1 by means of avalve-controlled pipe 13. Said carburetingchamber 8 is rectangular incrosssection, and within the same are mounted a plurality of alternatelyoppositely inclined, relatively-staggered, and laterally-corrugatedplates 14, over which the hydrocarbon liquid flows in a Zigzag directionthrough said chamher, and during such passage a practically rollingmotion is imparted to such liquid and its passage arrested at intervalsby the formation of little pools, which are continually changed and keptin agitation. Said plates 14 are so inclined relatively to the depth ofthe corrugations thereof as to cause the hydrocarbon liquid to collectin said corrugations, as shown in Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale.

Said plates are, further, of less width atend thereof and is connectedby means of a pipe 18 with the lower end of a storage-tank 19, fromwhich the gas is conducted to points of consumption by means of thevalve-con trolled pipe 20. As my invention relates more directly to saidcarburetor 8, I will pro-- ceed to further describe the construction andoperation thereof, said carbureter being the gas-generator proper, andhence obviously the important part of my apparatus. Interposed in thepath of the hydrocarbon liquid at about the middle of said chamber 8below the delivery end of one of the plates 1a is a rotary fan oragitator 21, upon which the liquid flows and which is constantly rotatedin a direction opposite to the flow of liquid and with suflicientrapidity to cause it to spray said liquid, and thus finely divide it,while at the same time it has the efiect of agitating thepartly-carbureted air and causing the latter to be intimately mixed withany fresh air which may have escaped contact with and hence has not beenimpregnated with hydrocarbon fluid. It also has the effect of preventingthe slightest stratification of the liquid, so that the less volatileconstituents are also continuously exposed to evaporation. The saidliquid collects in the bottom of the chamber 8, and by reason of thefact that the delivery end of the funnel 9 is immersed therein theadmitted air bubbles up through the same in a finely-divided state. Thisalso has the efiect of maintaining such liquid constantly agitated toprevent stratification thereof, and in order to continually reexposesuch liquid to the air to exhaust it of all volatile constituents orinsure its complete evaporation I providea circulating-pump 22, which isconnected at its suction end with the lower end of said chamber 8 and atits delivery end with the upper portion of said chamber, preferably soas to deliver such liquid upon the upper end of the plate which deliversthe liquid upon said agitator 21. In order to render the liquid morevolatile, if desired, Iprovide a tank 23 adjacent the lower end of saidchamber 8 and connected with the latter by means of a pipe 24, while atits upper end said tank 23 is connected with the suction end of .saidpump 22 by means of the pipe 25, controlled by the valve 26. In saidtank is a steam heating-coil, which serves to heat said liquid as itpasses through said tank. I also provide a by-pass pipe 27, connected atone end with said pipe 24: and at its other end with the pipe 25 abovethe valve 26 therein, so that by closing said valve 26 and opening thevalve 28 in said pipe 27 said liquid will pass directly from the lowerend of the chamber 8 to said pump 22 without entering said tank 23.

It will noted that my apparatus is so constructed that the air andhydrocarbon fluid always flow in opposite directions and are maintainedin continuous agitation and circulation and finely divided, so as toexpose a maximum surface of liquid constantly to the air, and by heatingsuch air, and likewise the less volatile constituents of the liquid, theresulting carbureted air carries a very large amount of carbon and isconsequently very rich and capableof producing an intense heat. In orderto further insure a thoroughly-uniform gas at the point of consumption,I provide the tank 19 with two horizontal perforated partitions 30, oneof which is located adjacent the bottom of said tank above the deliveryend of said pipe 18 and the other of which is mounted adjacent the upperwall of said tank, and between which said tank is filled with coke orthe like, said plates and filling serving to again finely divide thecarbureted air and insuring further admixture of the more and lesssaturated portions.

A blow-off pipe 31 rises from the four-way coupling 3, in which apressure-regulating or safety valve 32 is interposed to preventexcessive pressure in any part of the apparatus.

Should the gas be too rich to permit perfect combustion at the burners,then it will become necessary to add air thereto at this point, and tothis end the air-presser is connected with the burners by means of thepipe 29, so that compressed air may be added to the gas at such point ofconsumption, and thereby produce a flame of great force and heatintensity. Burners such as are used in connection with my said apparatusare well known, and illustration thereof is thereforeomitted.

My said apparatus is exceedingly eflicient and produces an excellentquality of gas at small cost, such gas being suitable for welding,brazing, and other metal-working purposes.

I claim as my invention 1. In an apparatus for generating gas, thecombination with a source of supply of a hydrocarbon liquid and a sourceof supply of air under pressure, of a carbureter comprising a sealedvessel having connection with said source of supply of liquid at itsupper end and with said source of supply of air at its lower end,alternately-oppositely-inclined relatively-staggered plates, mounted oneabove the other in said vessel and over which the liquid passes zigzagthrough said vessel, an outlet for the carbureted air at the upper endof said vessel, and devices interposed in the path of said liquid belowthe delivery end of one of said plates for atomizing said liquid andagitating the air, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for generating gas, the combination with a source ofsupply of a hydrocarbon liquid and a source of supply of air underpressure, of a carbureter comprising a sealed vessel having connectionwith said source of supply of liquid at its upper end and with saidsource of supply of air at its lower end, alternately oppositelyinclined rela: tivelystaggered laterally-corrugated plates mounted oneabove the other in said vessel, over which said liquid flows zigzagtherethrough, an outlet for the carbureted air above the uppermostplate, and devices interposed in the path of said liquid below thedeliveryend of one of said plates for atomizing said liquid andagitating said air, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for generating gas, the combination with a source ofsupply of hydrocarbon liquid, and a source of supply of air underpressure, of a carbureter comprising a, sealed vessel connected at itsupper and lower ends with said sources of supply of liquid and airrespectively, a gas-outlet at the upper end of said vessel, and aplurality of alternatelyoppositely-inclined relatively-staggered,laterally-corrugated plates mounted one above the other in said vesselover which said liquid flows zigzag therethrough, said plates being soinclined relatively to the depth of the corrugations therein as topermit the formation of little pools of liquid in each concave deendswith said sources of supply of liquid and air respectively, a gas-outletat the upper end of said vessel, a plurality ofalternately-oppositely-inclined relatively-staggered,laterallycorrugated plates mounted in said vessel one above the otherover which said liquid and air pass zigzag therethrough in oppositedirections, said plates being so inclined relatively to the depth of thecorrugations therein as to cause the formation of little pools of liquidin each depression, and devices interposed be tween the ends of saidzigzag passage in the path of said liquid and said air forsimultaneously atomizing the former and agitating the latter,substantially as and for the purpose described. v

5. In an apparatus for generating gas, the combination with a source ofsupply of hydrocarbon liquid, and a source of supply of air underpressure, of a carbureter comprising a sealed vessel connected at itsupper and lower ends with said sources of supply of liquid and airrespectively, means for heating said air interposed in said connection,a plurality of alternately-oppositely-inclined relatively-staggeredplates mounted one above; the otherin said vessel and over which theliquid and air pass continuously in opposite directions, a gasoutletabove the uppermost plate, and a circulating-pump connected at itssuction end with the lower end of said vessel and at its delivery endwith the upper portion thereof and adapted to return liquid collectingat the bottom of said vessel upon one of said plates and cause it torepass through said vessel.

6. In an apparatus for generating gas, the combination with a source ofsupply of hydrocarbon liquid, and a source of supply of air underpressure, of a carbureter comprising a sealed vessel connected at itsupper and lower ends with said sources of supply of liquid and airrespectively, means for heating said air interposed in said connection,a plurality of alternately-oppositeinclined relatively-staggered platesmounted one above the other in said vessel and over which the liquid andair pass continuously in opposite directions, a gasoutlet above theuppermost plate, and a circulating-pump connected at its suction endwith the lower end of said vessel and at its delivery end with the upperportion thereof and adapted to return liquid collecting at the bottom ofsaid vessel upon one ofsaid plates and cause it to repass through saidvessel, and heating devices interposed in said connection.

7; In an apparatus for generating gas, the combination with a source ofsupply of hydrocarbon liquid, and a source of supply of air underpressure, of a carbureter comprising a sealed vessel connected at itsupper and lower ends with said sources of supply, of liquid and airrespectively, means for heating said air interposed in said connection,a plurality of alternatelyoppositely-inclined relatively-staggeredlaterally-corrugated plates mounted one above the other in said vesseland over which said liquid and air pass zigzag in opposite directionstherethrough, a gas-outlet in the upper end of said vessel, andacirculating-pump connected at its suction end with the lower end ofsaid vessel and at its delivery end with the upper end of said vesselabove the upper end of one of said plates. a

8. In an apparatus for generating gas, the combination with a source ofsupply of hydrocarbon liquid, and a source of supply of air 1 underpressure, of a carbureter comprising a sealed vessel connected at itsupper and lower ends with said sources of supply, of liquid and airrespectively, means for heating said air interposed in said connection,a plurality of alternately-oppositely-inclined relatively-staggeredlaterally-corrugated plates mounted one above the other in said vesseland over which said liquid and air pass zigzag in opposite directionstherethrough, a gas-outlet in the upper end of said vessel, and acirculating-pump connected at its suction end with the lower end of saidvessel and at its delivery end with the upper end of said vessel abovethe upper end of one of said plates, and heating devices interposed insaid connection.

9. A carbureter comprisinga sealed vessel having an inlet forhydrocarbon liquid at its upper end, an inlet for fluid to be carburetedat its lower end, an outlet for carbureted fluid at its upper end, aplurality of alternately-oppositely -inclined relatively-staggeredlaterally-corrugated plates mounted one above the other in said vessel,over which s'aidliquid and the fluid to be carbureted passin oppositedirection, power-actuated devices interposed in the path of said liquidand fluid for atomizing the latter and agitating the former, and acirculating-pump connected at its suction end with the lower end of saidcarbureter and at its delivery end with the upper portion thereof abovethe said power-actuated atomizing and agitating devices. I

10. A carbureter comprising a sealed vessel having an inlet forhydrocarbon liquid at its upper end, an inlet for fluid to be carburetedat its lower end, an outlet for carbureted fluid at its upper end, aplurality of alternately-oppositely inclined relatively staggeredlaterally-corrugated plates mounted one above the other in said vessel,over which said liquid and the fluid to be carbureted pass in oppositedirection, power-actuated devices interposed in the path of said liquidand fluid for atomizing the latter and agitating the former, and acirculating-pump connected at its suction end with the lower end of saidcarbureter and at its delivery end with the upper portion thereof abovethe said power-actuated atomizing and agitating devices, and heatingdevices interposed in said connection between said pump and saidcarbureter.

11. A carbureter comprising a sealed vessel having a zigzag passageleading from the upper to the lower end of same, said vessel beingprovided at its upper end with an inlet for hydrocarbon liquid and anoutlet for carburetedfluid, and at its lower end with an inlet for fluidto be carbureted, the hydrocarbon liquid and fluid to be carburetedbeing adapted to pass through said zigzag passage in oppositedirections, and power-actuated devices interposed in said passagebetween the ends of same and in the path of the liquid and fluid forsimultaneously atomizing the former and agitating the latter.

12. A carbureter comprising a sealed vessel having an inlet forhydrocarbon liquid and an outlet for gas at its upper end, an inlet for,

fluid to be carbureted at its lower end, and having an inclined zigzagpassage leading from the upper to the lower end of said vessel throughwhich the hydrocarbon liquid and the fluid to be carbureted pass inopposite directions, power-actuated means between the ends of saidpassage in the path of said liquid and fluid for atomizing the formerand agitating the latter, and means for returning liquid collecting inthe bottom of said vessel into said passage above said power-actuatedatomizing and agitating devices.

13. Acarbureter comprising a sealed vessel having internal partitionsadapted to form a zigzag passage leading from the upper to the lower endof same, and being provided with an inlet for hydrocarbon liquid and anoutlet for gas at its upper end, and with an inlet for fluid to becarbureted at its lower end, said liquid and fluid being adapted to passthrough said zigzag passage in opposite directions, the walls of saidpassage being provided with recesses adapted to receive and retainlittle pools of liquid, and power-actuated atomizing and agitatingdevices located between the ends of the said zigzag passage in the pathof said liquid and fluid.

14. A carbureter comprising a sealed vessel having internal partitionsadapted to form a zigzag passage leading from the upper to the lower endof same, and being provided with an inlet for hydrocarbon liquid and anoutlet for gas at its upper end, and with an inlet for fluid to becarbureted at its lower end, said liquid and fluid being adapted to passthrough said zigzag passage in opposite directions, the walls of saidpassage being provided with recesses adapted to receive and retainlittle pools of liquid, power-actuated atomizing and agitating deviceslocated between the ends of said zigzag passage in the path of saidliquid and fluid, and means for returning liquid collecting in thebottom portion of said vessel into said passage above said atomizing andagitating devices.

15. A carbureter comprising a sealed vessel having internal partitionsadapted to form a zigzag passage leading from the upper to the lower endof same, and being provided with an inlet for hydrocarbon liquid and anoutlet for gas at its upper end, and with an inlet for fluid tobecarbureted at its lower end, said liquid and fluid being adapted topass through said zigzag passage in opposite directions, the walls ofsaid passage being provided with recesses adapted to receive and retainlittle pools of liquid, and power-actuated atomizing and agitatingdevices located between the ends of said zigzag passage in the path ofsaid liquid and fluid, means for returning liquid collecting in thebottom portion of said vessel into said passage above said atomizing andagitating devices, and means for heating said liquid during its returnpassage.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD F. WILSON.

Witnesses:

RUDOLPH WM. Lorz, F. SCHLOTFELD.

